Poughkeepsie, NY, September 14, 2009 - The Dutchess County Staff Association today announced it is the sole representative of administrative and confidential employees of Dutchess County government. The Dutchess County Staff Association would represent about 130 county administrators and confidential employees.
The county's employees exercised their right under the New York State Public Employees Fair Employment Act - the Taylor Law - to form a collective bargaining unit.
A letter requesting voluntary recognition of the Association was hand-delivered to the Dutchess County Executive and the Dutchess County Legislature this morning. Organizers have collected petition cards from 70 percent of the eligible employees; the hope is that the county will voluntarily recognize the union.
The Taylor Law requires that only 50 percent of eligible employees, plus one, sign petition cards for a collective bargaining unit to be certified without an election.
The Dutchess County Staff Association is looking forward to working with the county executive and the legislature to reach an agreement that serves the goal of fairness to our members and to the citizens of Dutchess County, organizers said.
NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; faculty and other professionals at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York, and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
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